(Untitled)

[joiningyousoon]

Maya steps through the door. Her stutter-step is a dead giveaway that she didn't intend to be here; so is the state of her uniform. She wears uniform trousers and a black fitted tank top, one that looks more like it's made of leather than cloth. The name 'ANTARES' is spelled out in small, discreet letters on one side; her dog tags hang loose.

Comments

[wheatencrown]

Demeter is still outside just enjoying the night air and watches Maya quietly. She sends a wave of warmth and love towards the woman on the Summer air.

[joiningyousoon]

The breeze smells like what Maya has always imagined summers in the West would be like; thick and warm and light, like flowers and fruit. It wraps around her, ruffles her hair.

She breathes deep.

[wheatencrown]

Her steps are quiet due to bare feet but Demeter makes them loud enough to hear as she approaches and with her the smells grow stronger.

[joiningyousoon]

Maya looks up at the stairs. It's a beautiful night; it's about as far from the one she left as it comes.

(Standing on the deck of the Konstantinov, watching your breath freeze; listening to the distant low thuds of explosions in the ravaged city below and feeling the cold slowly sap the sensation from your hands, and thinking about how easy it would be to sit up here and not come down.)

She doesn't turn around.

[river_meimei]

At some point, there are steps behind her.

Not quite silent; River's feet are bare, but grass rustles and sand shifts, and River Tam is a girl of cities and spaceships.

[joiningyousoon]

Maya's feet have sunk into the cool, sandy lake bottom. Minnows swim around her ankles, flashing silvery bright under the moonlight.

She listens to the footsteps; watches the wavery growing reflection in the water. She tips her head to the side, chin pressed to her shoulder, but doesn't turn far enough that she can see the person approaching.

"River."

It's a guess, but a good one, she thinks. Her voice is tired. She's tired.

[river_meimei]

A good one; River's head turns in a quick surprised glance, though Maya probably can't see.

The surprise is mild. The concern is stronger, and stays, as she paces closer to the lake, and the woman, and the quiet lapping waves meeting sand.

Softly, "I'm here."

It might be a question. Or it might only be a statement.

[joiningyousoon]

"I noticed." Her voice is too drained, too dull, to properly telegraphy the wry humor that she isn't feeling. She turns those last couple of inches, and blue eyes flick to the girl on the shore. She inclines her head, just a little bit. "Hey, you."

[aimedforthemoon]

Esfir spends a lot of time outside. Possibly too much, given she spends most of the time watching the moon, but sometimes...

Inside makes her feel like she's dying all over again.

And it's nothing that Maya does to attract the pilot's attention, given both women are wrapped up in their own world, but at some point Esfir looks down from the sky to catch sight of her.

[joiningyousoon]

Maya stands still as a statue, water rippling softly around her shins.

[aimedforthemoon]

She could go back to watching the moon and sky, she could go back inside, she could-

(Maya is still, staring)

What she does is get to her feet and try and to leave the woman in peace. But the trouble with doing that at night is, well.

You can end up tripping and making far too much noise.

[joiningyousoon]

The woman in the water turns at the unexpected noise.

She watches the small woman for a moment; too long for the silence to be entirely comfortable. Maya Antares is many things, but she is not unkind, not even at her lowest moments.

"Are you alright?" she asks. Her voice is low and rough, and tinged with an accent.

[steelartisan]

Sometimes, a man wants to go for a run outdoors, not in a practice room, and not under the Sentinels' watchful (if, O*N*E assures them, purely protective) eyes. Sure, Piotr could be patient instead, but -- there are people to check up on, too. Logan; Laura, in her timeline; Serenity's crew; Sallie, and Jack, and any number of other people who might happen to be in today.

...Okay, when he was thinking a run, he didn't plan for it being nighttime here.

[joiningyousoon]

It's a nice night; crickets chirping, moon shining, waves lapping softly at the shore. There's a summer breeze riffling through the trees, setting them to swaying; warm enough for no sleeves, but cool enough that Maya doesn't uncross her arms. The water is still cold -- it is, after all, Scotland -- and it's slowly starting to numb her toes.

She's dressed in black and dark gray, but her hair shines gold under the moonlight.

[steelartisan]

He had just about decided to go for the run anyway.

That's before he spots her: the lone woman, golden-haired and moon-silvered, standing stock-still with pain in every line of her body -- after the first startled glimpse, he recognizes her as Maya Antares, and his brows draw together in abrupt concern.

[joiningyousoon]

In the distance, an owl hoots. Maya's eyes briefly flick to the side, then rise to the stars again. An stronger gust of wind sends patterns rippling across the lake and flips the tail of Maya's braid. There are old tear tracks and new lines on her face.

It's a nice night.